Stop Using People's Templates!

Let's talk about something that's holding back way too many mix engineers: the obsession with using other people's templates.

I get it. You see a successful engineer share their template, and it feels like getting the keys to the kingdom. "If I use their template, my mixes will sound like theirs!" But here's the uncomfortable truth: it won't. And more importantly, it shouldn't.

The Template Trap

Here's what actually happens when you rely on someone else's template:

1. You skip the crucial process of developing your own workflow

2. You miss out on understanding why certain processing choices work (or don't)

3. You become dependent on someone else's thought process instead of developing your own

4. Your mixes start sounding like weak imitations rather than strong originals

The Hero Worship Problem

Let's be real: our industry has a serious hero worship problem. We put certain mix engineers on pedestals and convince ourselves that if we just copy their exact process, we'll achieve their level of success.

But think about it: those engineers you admire? They didn't get where they are by copying someone else's template. They got there by developing their own approach, understanding their own process, and creating workflows that align with their unique way of thinking and hearing.

Why Templates Aren't the Answer

When you use someone else's template, you're not just borrowing their signal chain – you're trying to borrow their years of experience, their unique perspective, and their decision-making process. But these things can't be templated. They need to be developed through your own experience and growth.

The harsh truth? Using templates is often just a way to avoid the hard work of developing your own skills and workflow. It's a shortcut that actually takes you the long way around.

The Real Path Forward

Instead of relying on templates, focus on:

• Understanding why you make each processing decision

• Developing workflows that match your own thinking process

• Building your own templates based on your actual needs

• Learning from others' principles rather than copying their specifics

Breaking Free from Template Dependency

Start by deleting those downloaded templates. Yes, all of them. Then:

1. Begin with a blank session

2. Think through your own signal flow

3. Document your own decision-making process

4. Create your own templates based on real project needs

5. Refine based on actual results, not someone else's advice

The Power of Personal Development

The most valuable thing you can develop as a mix engineer isn't a perfect template – it's your own approach, your own workflow, and your own sound. These come from:

• Real-world experience

• Critical listening and decision-making

• Understanding your unique strengths

• Developing your own problem-solving methods

Moving Forward

Stop looking for shortcuts in other people's templates. Start doing the real work of developing your own approach. Yes, it's harder. Yes, it takes longer. But it's the only way to become the kind of engineer who actually knows what they're doing and why they're doing it.

Remember: The engineers you admire got where they are by developing their own way of working, not by copying someone else's. It's time for you to do the same.

Your goal shouldn't be to sound like someone else. Your goal should be to develop your own sound, your own workflow, and your own success story. That's something no template can give you.